FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT ZEN - PAGE 2

Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals By Robert M. Pirsig Bantam, 409 pages, $22.50 The first question probably is, will readers who loved Robert Pirsig's now-classic bestseller "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" also love "Lila"-his first book in more than 15 years? The answer, surely, is yes. And will those who hated "Zen" hate this one, too? Again, yes. For if "Zen," which broke on the literary scene in 1974, was a book of oafish, brilliant originality, "Lila" is no less strange and new. The appeal of Pirsig's work is hard to pinpoint.

Scary but true: It has been nearly a decade since John Bonham's death and the subsequent breakup of Led Zeppelin. The years have been filled with selected solo and combo efforts by lead singer Robert Plant, including a couple of albums and a stint with the Honey Drippers. But Plant's latest LP release, "Now and Zen" (Es Paranza/Atlantic), is the closest he has come to the power and resonance of the Zeppelin glory (gory?) days of old. The similarities between "Zen" and Zeppelin's efforts from the late `70s led to a quick platinum certification and months on the charts.

While many Americans turn to yoga, tai chi, and assorted New Age tools to relieve stress and connect to their spiritual sides, some experts recommend a more hands-on method of achieving inner peace: taking a Zen approach to cooking. In simple terms, Zen, a religious practice and life philosophy originating in India and carried to China and Japan by traveling monks in the 12th Century, means "meditation." For some cooks, the myriad activities involved in chopping, braising, roasting and baking are considered stimulating and relaxing.

Now and zen: For a look at interactive Zen images, turn your consciousness to www.fischer.com.au/zen/ Ringside seats: If your idea of a boxing day is more sporting, try the Boxing King of Sports site at geocities.com/Colosseum/Midfield/7110/ ---------- Send inquiries to moryan@tribune.com

Corey Stevens Road to Zen (Discovery) (star) (star) Blues-rock guitarist Corey Stevens comes up a bit short in virtually every category on his second album. His vocals are strong but too reminiscent of Eric Clapton's. His guitar work is assured but owes too much to Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. And his original material (with a few exceptions) is pretty forgettable. Best bets are the fiery opener "Only One For You" and Stevens' ode to life on the road, "Road to Zen."

This is going to be a very Zen column. You don't know what that means, do you? Neither do I. But slapping the Zen label on it will make both of us feel more in touch with our inner trendiness. Or should we just call it zendiness? I have gotten very in touch with my zendiness lately. Maybe you have too. Zendiness is in the air, or at least it's in the marketplace. Open the newspaper. There's a Calvin Klein ad for "zen comforts." It's hard to imagine Calvin Klein as a Zen master, but what do I know about Zen?

"Follow the rule of holes; if you are in one, stop digging." --Dennis Healy "If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your environment." --B.F. Skinner "Things don't change. You change your way of looking, that's all." --Carlos Castaneda "The only Zen you find on the top of the mountains is the Zen you bring up there." --Robert Persig "Be happy; it's a way of being wise." --Colette

Personal computers are the great Rorschach tests of our time. Ask people to talk about their computers, and within five minutes they`re talking about themselves. This doesn`t happen with televisions, microwaves or even cars. People say what they have to say about these machines and shut up. But ask about a computer, and you`ll get a life story, personal philosophy, pet peeves, loves and hates. Someone asked Michael Green to write about his Macintosh. Green has written a marvelous book, "Zen and the Art of the Macintosh," and it has little to do with his Macintosh.

Sheila Chandra ABoneCroneDrone (Real World) (star) (star) After the stunning "The Zen Kiss," this new release by Chandra is a disappointment. Where "The Zen Kiss" put Chandra's startling and dramatic voice at its center, "ABoneCroneDrone" is a dense swirl of atmospheric electronic sounds in which Chandra is just one more element. In her extended--and overrationalized--liner notes, Chandra says she's trying to put the listener as close as possible to what she hears in her head.

Now and Zen (Robert Plant, Es Peranza/Atlantic). Ever since he launched his solo recording career in 1982 with "Pictures at Eleven"-which found him working with a blues band called the Honeydrippers-Plant has seemed determined to put as much distance as possible between himself and his old band, `70s supergroup Led Zeppelin. With "Now and Zen," however, the singer obviously has undergone a change of heart. Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page contributes guitar solos on two of the album's songs, "Heaven Knows" and "Tall Cool One"; the latter, co-written with keyboard player and co-producer Phil Johnstone, recalls the melodic rock of Led Zep and even features samplings of old Zep hits.